Policy Priorities and Campaigns

Policy priorities and campaigns

Our policy and campaign work integrates with our hotline advice and casework, both from our financial counsellors and our solicitors.

Financial Rights makes submissions to government and industry, participates in working groups, comments on draft legislation, undertakes research, refers unfair practices and systematic issues to regulators and/or industry groups for investigation, and raise awareness through the media. We aim to identify systemic issues that contribute to financial hardship and consumer detriment, and then develop law reform, advocacy and educational responses. We advocate for reforms in regulation, policy and industry practices that will help create a fairer marketplace for consumers, particularly consumers financial stress and disadvantage.

Our publications include landmark reports, educational tools, webinars and newsletters to keep consumers and professionals abreast of developments in key policy areas.

Our policy priorities

Financial Rights recognises that there is a vast range of policy issues that impact consumer in financial stress. We must prioritise the issues on which we work to ensure that our resources are used strategically, efficiently and for the benefit of disadvantaged consumers. While we remain responsive to consumer policy issues and debates as they arise, we retain a focus on the following priority areas. Financial Rights’ policy activities are funded by NSW Department of Fair Trading, NSW Attorney General’s Department and the Ecstra Foundation.

Primary priorities

1. Pricing transparency in general insurance
Mitigation should be reflected in premiums; consumers need premium information and independent price monitoring

2. General insurance claims handing
Improving the insurance code of practice, lifting industry practice and promoting enforcement

3. Debt Management Services
Introduce conduct rules for Debt Management Services with improved oversight and enforcement

4. General Insurance Standard Definitions
Standardising natural hazard definitions and related terms like wear and tear

Secondary priorities

5. Life Insurance
6. Debt Agreements
7. Wage Advance
8. Responsible Lending
9. Extended Warranties

Supporting priority

10. Scams
11. Unfair Trading in Financial Services
12. Financial Hardship

Watching briefs

13. Credit Reporting
14. Bankruptcy
15. Centrepay
16. Financial Abuse in Life Insurance
17. Solar on Credit
18. Strata Hardship

Mob Strong’s policy and advocacy work